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Chelee · 06-28-2008, 12:37 AM

Hi Donna, My lower legs, ankles and feet were really swollen to the point it was painful at times. However I wasn't on herceptin as long as your Mother. At first I blamed it on my chemo but when I finished the taxotere & carbpotin all I was on was the "weekly" herceptin to finish up my year and my lower extermities had major edema.

It was bad enough that my pulmonary doctor and onc several times did not like the looks of it and I was sent straight to the hospital to have a doppler done. They were so afraid I had clots...which thankfully I didn't. So then I was put on lasix and potassium to get rid of the fluid build up. Once I finished my yr of herceptin it did go away. So I know the herceptin can cause it.

But with your Mom it's different because she didn't start having this problem till 2 weeks ago? At least her doctor is aware of it and is keeping an eye on it. Since he did a muga on her how did that turn out? Was it low or on the high side? It does help to elevate your legs. I did every chance I got. And of course avoid foods that are loaded with salt...that goes without saying. If it gets too painful like it did for me maybe her doc will give her some lasix to get the edema down. Wish I could be of more help. Hope things get better for you mom.

Chelee

06-28-2008, 12:37 AM	#3
Chelee Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 2,511	Hi Donna, My lower legs, ankles and feet were really swollen to the point it was painful at times. However I wasn't on herceptin as long as your Mother. At first I blamed it on my chemo but when I finished the taxotere & carbpotin all I was on was the "weekly" herceptin to finish up my year and my lower extermities had major edema. It was bad enough that my pulmonary doctor and onc several times did not like the looks of it and I was sent straight to the hospital to have a doppler done. They were so afraid I had clots...which thankfully I didn't. So then I was put on lasix and potassium to get rid of the fluid build up. Once I finished my yr of herceptin it did go away. So I know the herceptin can cause it. But with your Mom it's different because she didn't start having this problem till 2 weeks ago? At least her doctor is aware of it and is keeping an eye on it. Since he did a muga on her how did that turn out? Was it low or on the high side? It does help to elevate your legs. I did every chance I got. And of course avoid foods that are loaded with salt...that goes without saying. If it gets too painful like it did for me maybe her doc will give her some lasix to get the edema down. Wish I could be of more help. Hope things get better for you mom. Chelee __________________ DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes. Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs. Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06 Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07 3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07 9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV. 9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa 9-29-09 Power Port Placement 10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head. 11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed 12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa. 3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed. 4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone. 5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy. Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time. 7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.